Allows samples to be extracted easily for hydrometer testing.
Simply insert into beer or wine, take sample then insert hydrometer to take a reading.
Reduce risk of contamination and avoids having to syphon into trial jar.
Suitable for use with 1 gallon Demi Johns.

Allows samples to be extracted easily for hydrometer testing.
Simply insert into beer or wine, take sample then insert hydrometer to take a reading.
Reduce risk of contamination and avoids having to syphon into trial jar.
50 cm long

Please enter your postcode at the checkout to ensure that we charge the correct amount towards postage and packing. We aim to despatch all orders within 24 hours, by our dedicated team of packers, and sent by courier on a 24 hour service. All orders are packed with care using air bags and bubble wrap where appropriate. In the unfortunate event that your order is damaged during transit we will replace all damaged items without quibble, including glass items, just send us a photo of the damaged items within 3 days of recieving delivery.

Please note that we only process orders Monday - Friday and therefore bank holidays can cause slight delays in despatch so please be patient at these times. There can also be a slight delay during extremely busy periods especially in the run up to Christmas but most orders will be despatched within a few days.

A signature is required for delivery and the courier will not leave your parcel unless it has been signed for. If you are not in an advice card will be left and your parcel will be taken to your local post office or depot. An alternative, work, address can be entered at the checkout. Use this function for sending your parcel as a present. Please contact us if you wish to send your goods as a present and we will be happy to include a personal message in the contents. This will not delay your order. We cannot accept orders to BFPO addresses.

Write Your Own Review

You're reviewing:The Thief

How would you rate this product?

Rating

1 star2 stars3 stars4 stars5 stars

Nickname

Summary

Review

Customer Reviews

80%

Simple tool for the job

Review byTomon12/09/2018

This is a very useful tool for taking samples, certainly much easier than trying to get a siphon to only extract a small amount. A little difficult to clean or sanitise as it's quite large, but oherwise ideal.

100%

Simple and elegant

Review byIanon11/03/2017

Love this device. So simple and elegant to use and no risk of contamination when taking SG readings.

100%

Easy to use, and no leaks

Review byMarkon09/11/2016

I used the Thief to take a sample which I then poured into a trail jar using the bottom valve, so I have not tried a Hydrometer in the thief. The reason being I am only taking a small sample so I would struggle to get the hydrometer out again!

Anyway the thief was very easy to use, picked a sample up with no leaking out of the bottom as some have reported. The small sticking out valve at the bottom means you do not have to pour/tip the thief up but simply put the bottom end in the trial jar and gently push the valve and the beer flows out. Definetly recomended.

100%

Easy to use

Review byGarethon19/05/2015

Very easy to use and does exactly what it says on the tin, makes taking a sample very simple, must have!

60%

Handy but leaks

Review byPhilon17/10/2013

Tried using this for wine, but it kept dripping out of the bottom so I couldn't get an accurate reading from the hydrometer.

However used purely as an extraction device to get the wine into a trial jar it's still a very useful device.

20%

Too thin

Review byCopeon11/10/2012

It's too thin to get an accurate reading as the hydrometer sticks to the sides (It was off by .030 once!). Would be good if I could find a thin hydrometer (but I can't) however it does leak. I would not recommend buying it. You should just buy a trial jar and get a fermenter with a tap. All available on this website (which is good).

100%

Great tool.

Review byDoddzilaon07/05/2012

A very handy little tool. Minimum sterilising and not much disturbance to your brew. Hydrometer can stick to the side but a Little balancing sorts that out. Overall it saves time.

40%

doesn't work for me

Review byAlexanderon22/04/2012

I find that the beer drips out of the bottom slowly when in use, and also that the hydrometer tends to stick to the side. Neither of these would be a problem on its own, but I try to hold it perfectly vertical and shake it or tap it so that the hydrometer is free from the sides, so that I can be sure I'm getting an accurate reading. This is not easy to do, and all the while the level of the beer is slowly going down and I have to make sure that it drips into the fermenting bin or the sink whilst at the same time trying to find the side of the hydrometer where the numbers are. Perhaps I'm being too fussy about my readings, or perhaps I've got a dodgy thief which leaks more than it's supposed to. Anyway, I'm going to go back to using a trial jar so that I can take my readings in peace without the stress of the beer draining away while I'm trying to take a reading. The thief could still be useful for taking a small sample more easily than via a syphoning tube, however.

100%

Annoyed

Review byUremaWon22/04/2012

Annoyed i didnt buy this sooner. One of those things that makes brewing that little bit easier.

80%

Handy bit of kit

Review byxXBADGERXxon03/03/2012

I have quite a tall Fermenting Vessel that is perched atop my Fridge , the Thief makes it very simple for me to take a sample from this and a reading without any faffery . Once the sample has been obtained you can release the contents by touching the valve on the side of the FV and allowing it to pour back in . It is made from Acrylic so don`t go sterilising it in boiling water as it will knacker the Acrylic . It is also quite long so not quite suited to taking Hydro readings from 1 gallon Demis . Due to it`s length I have taken to buying a Wallpaper tray to drop this into for sterilising purposes along with my 23 litre Autosyphon . Handy bit of kit for the Brewer with no spare hands to help :)

100%

All the best ideas are simple.

Review byMechon26/02/2012

I don't know how I managed before without this simple piece of kit. It makes taking readings so easy and there is no waste as your samples can go straight back in the FV. If brewing small batches just use The Thief and fill a sample jar until you have the required amount. Great piece of kit.

80%

Useful item

Review byMichaelon27/11/2011

While not most essential, this is a useful and convenient tool.
I also think it's going to last a long while if it is used without applying force, but that remains to be seen.

The only issue I see with it is that it will collect a level of liquid slightly less high (well, the usable part of it, anyways) than what's in your fermenting vessel, even if you hold it at an angle.
Hence, if you're brewing a small batch in a large vessel, the level of liquid drawn will not necessarily suffice for a hydrometer reading, in which case you'll have to resort to a more regular means of filling it up to sufficient levels.

100%

WOW! Buy this!

Review byBitterntwistedon14/09/2010

I got fed up with trying to test wine and beer by syphoning out a little and wasting it. This ingenious tool eliminates that dilemma. Simply dip into your brew, lift, drop in your hydrometer, take a reading and then touch the tip to the side of the bin/demi-john and the fluid goes back in to the brew from the tube. Easy! No mess, no guess and minimal disturbance to your wine or beer. Superb idea!